Every person who builds a new house or makes major repairs, reconstruction of an old house wants to complete all work in a short time, with high quality and with minimal financial costs. To do this, it is necessary to think over and draft all future communications, taking into account the sequence of the installation work performed. Therefore, you should correctly assess the possibilities: what you can do with your own hands, and where to trust the specialists.
Installation sequence
For new buildings, first of all, you need to think over from which source of electricity will flow to the house. This could be the nearest power line or substation. At the construction stage, it is worthwhile to coordinate this issue with the power engineers and make a temporary installation of the switchboard. First, it is worth choosing a place and installing a ground loop for the future home. The lead-in cable can be overhead or underground, depending on local conditions.
All these details are coordinated at the initial stage of construction work. When laying a cable, you must immediately take into account its parameters:
- placement conditions: overhead line or underground;
- length;
- cable brand, type of insulation: rubber or PVC;
- number and cross-section of veins.
Cable laying in a private house
The wires must be copper, they are more durable, since they can withstand a large current load, comply with the requirements of the PUE guidelines (rules for the installation and operation of electrical installations). It is very important to pay attention to the fact that all internal wiring of private residential buildings is made with copper wires.
The cable cross-section is calculated taking into account the size of the load that you plan to use. All these data are displayed in the project for the installation of electrical wiring; a floor plan is drawn up, in which all elements and their locations are indicated:
- introductory board with the number of automatic protection devices, their brand;
- wiring routes indicating the length and marking of the cable;
- junction boxes;
- switches and sockets;
- elements of the lighting system;
- the locations of the sockets for wiring powerful heating devices are indicated separately.
Based on the data of this wiring diagram, you can calculate the main elements of wiring and consumables:
- automatic circuit breakers;
- switches;
- junction boxes;
- socket outlets;
- wires of various cross-sections, sockets for lighting and a common path;
- dowels, self-tapping screws for fixing the switchboard, wire fixing clips.
After the above measures have been taken, you can proceed with the installation of electrical wiring in the house, having previously installed the ground loop. The place for the ground loop is selected not far from the permanent input switchboard.
The installation of this structure is simple, everything can be done by hand if desired. Many specialized stores sell ready-made kits for grounding private houses with detailed instructions, according to which it is easy to assemble and install everything with your own hands.
Connection diagram
Installation of electrical wiring is carried out according to the project plan and the installation diagram of the input switchboard. The main constituent elements of the wiring:
- introductory circuit breaker;
- metering unit for electricity consumption;
- circuit breakers into separate groups.
In a private house, electrical wiring is usually divided into 3-4 groups: lighting, sockets, utility rooms, garages, sheds and a separate group of wiring for powerful heating devices.
Installation of electrical wiring in the house
Cable selection
For wiring, PUNP or VVG cables are used in double PVC insulation on a single wire and a common sheath.
VVG 3x2.5 - these numbers indicate that the cable has three copper wires with a cross section of 2.5 kv / mm. Such wires are used for wiring socket groups. For lighting, a cable with wires of 1.5 kV / mm is used. Between the junction boxes, wires with a cross section of 4 kv / mm are usually laid.
For certain groups of electric heating devices: stoves, boilers, washing machines, a wire of at least 6 mm / sq.
A four-wire cable from the switchboard is laid directly to the appliance on an electric oven, boiler, split system or washing machine. It is advisable to lay these cables without junction boxes; install a separate circuit breaker for each element in the lead-in panel based on its maximum current load.
In the lighting circuit between the junction boxes, a cable with 2.5 kv / mm wires can be laid. If we are talking about modern electrical appliances, chandeliers and other lighting structures, then usually they use wiring with 4 wires that are grounded. The sockets also provide a grounding wire contact, this is required by the PUE.
Example of a junction box diagram
In the socket group between the junction boxes, a cable is laid in four wires with a cross section of 4 kv / mm. From the box to the outlet, you can run a cable with a wire cross-section of 2.5 kV / mm, it can withstand load currents up to 30A from devices that consume power up to 6 kW. This is quite enough for long-term operation of irons, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and even household heating heaters with a power of 700 W to 1.5 kW.
Electrical wiring divorce
Installation of wires on the walls, fastening of socket outlets and junction boxes can be done by hand. The most difficult and responsible thing is the correct wiring, connecting the contacts in the junction boxes and assembling the circuit. Afterwards, it is quite difficult to correct connection errors in the junction boxes. If you can't do this with your own hands, you should invite a specialist to help.
There are several types of wiring inside the house:
- in cable channels.
Open wiring is used very rarely in wooden houses on special insulators; in modern conditions, plastic cable channels are used for this. In them, the wiring is reliably protected from mechanical damage, they do not burn, they are easily attached to a wooden surface.
Installation of open wiring in the house
Consider the classic version of brick walls. Here, the wires are most conveniently fixed with clips, which are driven into the walls with an ordinary hammer. For junction boxes, recesses are made in the wall with a special crown with victorious teeth. After disconnecting all circuits in the junction boxes, each group is checked with a multimeter or other device for continuity.
With a positive result, the bare contacts on the entire wiring diagram are isolated, the covers of the junction boxes are closed. The socket boxes are fixed in their sockets, the network must be de-energized. Walls and wires are plastered.
In a private house, if you know the exact location of the wiring, you cannot subsequently interrupt the wire by hammering in dowels for a cabinet or shelf. In the places of sockets, lighting lamps, switches, ends 15-20 cm long remain for cutting and connecting. After the walls are completely finished, you can install switches, sockets, hang chandeliers and other lighting fixtures.
Wiring. Video
This video will tell you about the features of installing electrical wiring in the house. Taking good advice from here, you can start laying on your own.
One of the important and time-consuming repair processes is electrical wiring in a private house. To do it yourself, you need to carefully prepare, understand what materials and tools you need for this, what security measures to follow. Then the process will not be dangerous for the master, and the result will make it possible to use light and electricity for a long time in the house.
Adequate and safe electricity in a home is an important condition for a comfortable life in it.
Necessary tools for the job
Before doing the installation of electrical wiring in a private house with your own hands, you need to prepare all the tools and materials that will be used in the work. Having no idea about electricity and at least basic knowledge of its distribution inside the house, it will be quite difficult to do everything on your own. Careful preparation will make the process safe and easy.
The most powerful cables that can withstand the required load should come from the meter.
Wiring in a private house is performed using the following tools:
- pliers;
- screwdriver;
- shtroborez - grinder with discs, if the wiring will be laid inside concrete walls;
- a hammer;
- chisel;
- scissors or a sharp knife for cutting the cable;
- roulette;
- putty knife.
In addition, you need to prepare the following consumables:
- electric meter;
- cables of various cross-sections;
- RCD - automatic residual current device;
- terminal blocks;
- sockets, switches, installation boxes for them;
- junction boxes;
- alabaster mixture for fixing wires in channels;
- plastic boxes - if the wiring is external;
- self-tapping screws;
- glue.
In order to prepare in advance all the necessary tools and materials, you need to calculate how many of them will be needed in the process.
A copper stranded cable should come out from the electricity meter. Depending on the complexity and volume of the wiring, it is brought to several junction boxes. From them will go cables of a thinner cross-section, designed for less power. Before starting the installation of electrical wiring in the house, it is advisable to draw up a detailed plan in order to calculate the required amount of all elements and consumables.
Safety measures during work
In order for an electrician in the house to work properly and for a long time, without causing dangerous situations - a short circuit or fire of wires - it is worth knowing and understanding the basic rules and features of installation. The installation process from scratch in a new home is a little easier than replacing old wiring, as it takes place before finishing work. The first rule of re-installing electrics is that all elements, wires and junction boxes must be replaced, especially if they have served for more than a dozen years.
Protective equipment and materials must be used during the wiring process.
In addition, you should remember about such measures during work:
- The house must be divided into several zones. A separate RCD fuse will be responsible for each. This is especially true of areas where powerful household appliances will be connected - a washing machine, an electric oven, a water heating boiler, etc.
- When laying new wires, it is better to hide them in a corrugated hose. This is an effective fire protection.
- The wires are connected using terminals. Avoid connecting low and high power cables.
- If it is not possible to hide the wires in the grooves and cover with putty, plastic boxes can be used for safety and aesthetics.
- Even if it seems that some section of the old wiring has been preserved in good condition, it still needs to be replaced. This will prevent further problems.
Electricity in a home should not only be functional, but also safe for residents.
The best security measure during work is to hire a specialist who will professionally install the wiring in the house and take into account all the nuances. It is better not to save on this, since the work of a beginner will require a lot of time and effort, and in the future it may cause the need to rework some areas.
Service life of wiring
To understand when it is time to change the wiring of electricity in the house, or to know how many years the replacement work done will last, you need to find out its service life. Today's cables and connecting systems are of much better quality than they were several decades ago. Therefore, they will serve longer. But everything comes on time, and even good wiring will sooner or later require replacement.
The use of RCDs, junction and junction boxes, terminals and other protective elements helps to extend the life of electrical wiring at home.
The generally accepted gradation includes three different types of duration of operation of electrical wiring: nominal, warranty and actual service life. There is a difference between them:
- Nominal- this is the period during which the system operability factors must be observed. For example, a copper cable can function properly for 30 years if the voltage does not exceed 0.66 kV, and the temperature is in the range from -50 to +50 degrees.
- Warranty service life- this is the period during which the manufacturer (or seller) is ready to be responsible for this cable. For example, if something happens to the wire in 5 years of operation under the agreed conditions, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge.
- Actual term Is the system uptime, which depends only on the user. It may be less or more than the nominal, depending on the conditions under which the electrical wiring operates.
As a rule, electrical manufacturers provide a 10-year warranty. Although a properly installed system can last 8-10 times longer than this period.
Project and wiring diagram
In order for the do-it-yourself electrical wiring in the house to be competent, convenient and serve for a long time without interference or alterations, you need to make a project and think over all the nuances. The system diagram starts from the end - how many lamps will be in each room, how many sockets need to be placed on the walls, what load will be on each of them.
The electrical wiring project can be schematic, hand-drawn. The main thing is to understand where and how many electrical elements should be.
How many phases
There are two types of voltage that can be supplied to a private house - two-phase 220V with a maximum power consumption of 10-12 kW, and three-phase 380V with a maximum consumption of 15 kW. The second option is required in rare cases when powerful equipment is supposed to be connected. Then the requirements for installation and operation will be more stringent, because with such a connection, the likelihood of danger increases.
Connection to a three-phase network involves the installation of a special shield capable of carrying and distributing such a load
Ways to connect wires
Before proceeding with all the installation work, you need to understand how to connect the wires together. This will have to be done, the connection is made in junction boxes. There are several simple ways to connect them:
- twisting method- two wires are stripped 4-5 cm, twisted together and covered with a plastic cap, which ensures safety and an additional clamp;
- solder connection using a soldering iron and tin-lead solder - a more reliable method;
- terminal blocks make it possible to connect wires of different metals - copper and aluminum;
- one of the fastest ways to connect is spring terminals- allows you to connect single-core and stranded wires of different cross-sections.
When installing electrical wiring, several different types of wire connections can be used.
Where to install the shield
There are no standards for installing the flap in a strictly defined place. Often it is installed in utility rooms near the exit so that you can conveniently perform switching. There are several factors to consider:
- The room in which the shield will be installed must be dry and fireproof. Therefore, for example, it cannot be placed in a boiler room. And also where there are gas cylinders or other flammable objects.
- Access to the dashboard is needed all the time - so a pantry or storage room is also not the best option.
- You can just hang the shield on the wall, but it's better to make a special niche for it.
- For large rooms or groups of buildings - a house, a bathhouse, a garage, a utility block - it is better to use several electrical panels.
The modern backsplash is a small, compact box that can be positioned anywhere in the house.
A meter and an RCD are located inside the dashboard, several junction boxes come out of it. Therefore, during installation, it is important to correctly calculate the capacity and further communications.
Breakdown of consumers into groups
Consumers are all electrical elements that will be installed in the house - lamps, sockets, switches, etc. They are divided into groups to distribute the load in the system. The number of elements in each group depends on the thickness of the cable. Lighting devices are "planted" on one or two branches, depending on the configuration and size of the house.
An individual RCD must be installed for each consumer group.
After that, a breakdown into outlet groups takes place. It is desirable that there are no more than 5 outlets on one branch. If a specific outlet is supposed for a powerful appliance - an air conditioner or a washing machine, it is better to bring a separate line to it. For example, 3-4 groups can be brought into the kitchen, since there is the largest number of electrical appliances here.
How many lines should you draw for a room?
For rooms, two separate lines are enough: one for the sockets, another for the lighting fixtures. If it is planned to install an air conditioner, it is better to bring a separate line for it.
The breakdown into groups is done in the process of drawing the wiring diagram and makes it possible to calculate how many automatically RCDs will be installed.
Selection of cables and wires
After the preparatory stage and drawing up the wiring diagram, you can start choosing the cable. They are aluminum and copper. Copper has more bandwidth, they can withstand a higher load, so they are used more often for private houses.
The choice of cable depends on the load that will be assigned to it when operating the electrical system in the house.
There is no difference between round and flat cables, but the latter are used more often because of the ease of installation and the ability to hide it. Especially if the electrical wiring is not done from scratch in a new house, but is changed from the old one. As for the choice of cable cross-section, here you need to take into account the level of load on it. Calculations are made based on the following factors:
- the power cable for lighting fixtures must have a cross section of at least 1.5 sq. mm;
- cables for sockets into which electrical appliances will be connected - with a cross section of at least 2.5 sq. mm.
To determine the required length of all cables, you need to draw on the diagram all consumers of the electrical system. Having on paper the dimensions of all rooms and rooms, you can understand how long each wire will be. In this case, you should take 10-15 cm of allowances for each connection.
How to run cables in the house
The method of electrical installation is an important factor that needs to be decided at the stage of preparatory work. There are two types - open and hidden wiring. In a private house there may be a combination of these types, although when building from scratch it is better to immediately hide all cables and systems so that they do not spoil the design of the rooms.
You can hide the electrical wiring in different ways, but it is better to do this at the stage of rough work, so as not to spoil the repairs made later.
To decide which type of wiring installation is better to choose, it is worth considering all the pros and cons of the open and hidden method.
| Advantages | Flaws | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation of open wiring |
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| Installation of hidden wiring |
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After weighing all the pros and cons for yourself, you will be able to choose the best installation option for the electrical system. In an old house, when it is required not to lay a new one, but to replace the old electrical wiring, an open type is often used. However, the new house has every opportunity to hide electrical communications as much as possible.
The process of laying the cable and installing the system
The final preparatory stage is marking. Layout work is the application of cable lines to the walls, ceiling, floor, as well as the location of all elements. Performed with chalk. To make straight lines, you need to use a tape measure and a level. This procedure will also help you verify your calculations for the purchase of cable or consumables.
The layout of walls and ceilings will greatly simplify the further laying of electrical wiring.
After that, you can proceed to the very procedure for installing the electrical system. It consists of several stages:
Depending on the size of the house, wiring can take from several hours to several days. Careful fulfillment of all requirements and safety measures is a guarantee of long-term and quiet operation for several decades.
Checking and commissioning
To check the installed wiring system, you need to invite a specialist from the energy supervision to the house to put it into operation. With the help of a tester, it is necessary to “ring out” all the conductors, the integrity of the conductors, and check the correct insulation. In addition, an energy supervisor will check the ground and zero.
At the end of all work, you need to check the wiring system and make sure it is working properly.
The completion of all work and the launch of the system is confirmed by a corresponding document - a protocol, which is drawn up by a representative of energy supervision. An agreement is concluded for the provision of services, and further use of electricity is paid according to the current tariffs.
Videos about the installation of electrical wiring in a private house
The do-it-yourself wiring device in the house is demonstrated in the video:
Step-by-step instructions for conducting electrical wiring in a private house in the video:
Installation of electrical wiring in a private house is a long and complex process that includes many stages. Regardless of whether it will be performed by the hands of a professional electrician or independently, you need to carefully prepare, make all the calculations and comply with safety requirements. You should not save on consumables or specialist services, because the operation of electrical wiring involves more than a dozen years. Therefore, the work must be performed efficiently and reliably.
Light, heat, the work of engineering and household equipment - everything is tied to electricity. Therefore, the level of comfort completely depends on the uninterrupted and, importantly, the safe operation of the power grid. Any defect or mistake made during the installation of electrical equipment and electrical wiring can lead to dire consequences - fires or fires.
The topic of correct installation of electrical wiring for wooden houses is especially relevant. due to discrepancies in the interpretation of the PUE (Rules for the Arrangement of Electrical Installations) and the joint venture (Code of Rules), confusion and a lot of disputes arise. Therefore, within the framework of this article, we will answer the following questions:
- What are the basic principles of wiring in a wooden house.
- How electrical wiring is mounted in a wooden house in accordance with the rules of the PUE and SP.
- Technical features of the installation of hidden wiring.
Correct wiring in a wooden house
Wood is a general construction material with a long history. It is used to build both small guest houses and large cottages. With all the advantages of both log and frame houses, which are based on wooden posts, many believe that such structures have an increased fire hazard. But one important point is missing.
Regardless of what the house is built of - brick, aerated concrete, beams or rounded logs, upholstered furniture, curtains, curtains, interior items, household appliances, etc. first of all burn. Those. - "filling" of the house, made of combustible materials.
In a stone house, the electrical wiring going from the switchboard to the consumers is mounted in a fireproof material (the cable is laid in the grooves, which are then sealed and plastered, etc.).
In this case, the developer faces a difficult choice - the wiring in a wooden house can be external , the cable can be run inside wooden walls or between the frame posts.
How to lay a cable in a wooden house.
Consider all these methods of laying wires in a wooden house. If in the first case, the electrical wiring is in plain sight, which affects the speed of detecting an abnormal situation (cable overheating, etc.), then in the second version it is hidden behind the cladding or in a wooden array. Accordingly, what happens to the cable is not clear. Hence the developer's fears and doubts: “What if something happens to the electrical wiring? Will it light up or not? "
Practice shows that the "weak" point in the electrical network is not the cable itself (we do not consider cases of gross violation of installation, the use of a cable with a low cross-section, on which a large load was "hung", "twists" on the electrical tape on the route to splicate the cable) connection points - junction boxes, outputs for connecting consumers, i.e. sockets, switches, etc.
Modern power cables, with the abbreviation VVGng, etc., do not support combustion.
There are constant disputes about where it is safer to run the cable - outside or inside the walls, whether open wiring in a wooden house is permissible. It is believed that if we lay the wiring along the wall, this will give us time to see and respond to an emergency and make the right decision on how to proceed. Fight fire or evacuate.
Simply put, to smell the smoke immediately, and not later, when the flame has already spread to the structural elements. If the electrical wiring is mounted in the wall, even in a steel pipe, then this also may not save you from fire.
Semik FORUMHOUSE user
I can refer to my experience as a firefighter and the experience of an electrician in an emergency gang. Steel pipes are more needed for mechanical protection of the wiring from the "fool", the teeth of rats, which can even gnaw a metal hose and damage the cable. I have seen more than once how a steel pipe, with a wiring closed inside, glowed red-hot. If something like that happens in a wooden wall, a fire is inevitable.
According to the user, the first thing to think about when installing electrical wiring is a competent calculation of all cable cross-sections and the choice of electrical equipment for protection. That is, figuratively speaking, it makes no sense to put a 100 A circuit breaker on a wire with a cross section of 0.75 sq. mm with a distance to the consumer in a kilometer.
Hence, a safe electrical network is a balanced system where every element, from circuit breakers to cable cross-section and length, as well as to the end consumer, are matched to each other. It is a delusion to hope that by extending the cable through a metal pipe in a conditional wooden wall, we have already protected ourselves from fire. The rules for laying a cable in a wooden house are a rather vague thing, so far we have solved only part of the difficult task, which will be described below.
PUE and SP: standards and rules for the installation of electrical wiring in wooden and frame houses
Once again, we will repeat that we have left outside the scope of this article the external installation of electrical wiring in cable channels. We also do not consider the so-called. retro wiring. This option, both in design and in financial terms, is not suitable for everyone.
Therefore, we set the task - it is necessary to mount hidden electrical wiring in a wooden or frame house in a safe and regulated manner.
What wire to use for a wooden house
It seems that everything is simple - you need to open the PUE (seventh edition of 07/08/2002) and read paragraph 7.1.38, which says:
Electrical networks laid behind non-passable suspended ceilings and in partitions are considered as hidden electrical wiring, and they should be carried out: behind ceilings and in voids of partitions made of combustible materials in metal pipes, with localization ability, and in closed boxes; behind ceilings and in partitions made of non-combustible materials - pipes and boxes made of non-combustible materials, as well as flame-retardant cables. It must be possible to replace wires and cables.
Now we are opening a document for frame builders, namely SP 31-105-2002 "Design and construction of energy-efficient single-family residential buildings with a wooden frame". We read paragraph 13.5.1:
Wiring should be arranged by passing cables (wires in a protective sheath) through voids or spaces filled with insulation inside the walls and ceilings of the house, as well as through holes in timber frame elements of walls and floors. Skip such cables and wires through the structure of the house it is allowed to arrange without the use of bushings and tubes.
And paragraph 13.5.2:
For electrical wiring insulated wires in protective sheaths must be used or cables sheathed with flame retardant materials.
- A cable is two or more insulated conductors joined together and covered with insulation.
- A wire is a solid or stranded conductor with or without insulation.
Cable for wiring in a wooden house.
Accordingly: due to discrepancies between the PUE and the joint venture and the blurring of the wording in the PUE, many users have a question - how to properly mount electrical wiring for combustible materials. As prescribed in the PUE - by laying it in a steel pipe. Or, as it is written in the joint venture - using a flame-retardant cable, without additional protective sheaths. On this basis, a lot of controversy arises.
Vitalik 1985 FORUMHOUSE user
Think cable laying in steel pipes- this is a redundant solution. The probability that the cable will break through is negligible, fires more often occur due to a spark in the outlet. Better to pay more attention to circuit breakers, connections, junction box, switches, etc.
Danil117 FORUMHOUSE user
It is necessary to do so to exclude the very possibility of a wire fire. We choose the right cable cross-section, we select high-quality machines. That is, we do not hope that a steel pipe is a panacea for ignition and fire.
Also consider the opposite opinions.
Sollara FORUMHOUSE user
I think that wires for a wooden house should be in a metal pipe with localization ability. If a wire catches on fire, it will burn out inside. If it is short-circuited, the arc will not burn through the pipe. We put metal junction boxes connected to the pipe.
A steel pipe for electrical wiring in a wooden house must be grounded.
Also interesting is the opinion of a portal user with a nickname Ivanov Kostya.
By laying a cable in a metal pipe, we solve two problems: we protect the cable from possible mechanical damage and protect the tree from a possible cable fire.
Moreover, the first point is of key importance in relation to our construction conditions. Workers can, while mounting drywall or drilling something, punch an unprotected cable with a self-tapping screw or nail. The cable insulation can be damaged by the sharp edge of the metal profile. The cable can be gnawed (optionally) by rats or mice. In addition, the accumulation of wood dust during a spark or insulation breakdown can lead to a rapid spread of flame inside the walls.
It seems that such a solution is redundant, but in this way we protect the cable from force majeure, including the common situation: “I forgot where the cable goes in the wall, hung up the shelf / picture and damaged it”.
Although, in order to avoid such situations, we do not lay the cable as needed, but along strictly defined and marked cable routes, if necessary, taking photos with the attached tape measure.
Is corrugation acceptable for wiring in a wooden house
From the above, it becomes clear that some FORUMHOUSE users believe that electric cable in wooden houses, with hidden wiring should lead only in metal pipes. Let's emphasize - precisely in steel pipes, and not in a metal hose, plastic self-extinguishing corrugation or steel corrugated pipe.
Corrugation for wires in a wooden house with hidden wiring is not suitable!
The arc of a short circuit (short circuit) burns through the steel corrugated pipe, and the plastic corrugation, due to its fragility, will not save the wiring from mechanical damage.
Others believe that it is the metal pipe for wiring in a wooden house that is redundant and rely on foreign experience, which allows a cable in a log. In the classic frame using North American technology, the electrical cable is pulled straight through wooden posts, in drilled technological holes, without corrugations, metal pipes, etc.
In the "Finnish" version of the frame, the electric cable is usually pulled in an inner layer of counter-insulation embedded in a wooden counter-lattice.
It seems that the technology is available for repetition, because it has stood the test of time, but, as you know, the point is in the details.
“Overseas” is necessarily done grounding, and double - one goes to the street line, to the shield, the second - independent, connected either to copper pins driven into the ground, or to the central water pipe. Plus there is also a “zero” bus, and each line and electrical appliance (sockets, lamps, etc.) has its own independent grounding.
Roracotta FORUMHOUSE Member
To the house underground, 4 thick cables fit the meter. Earth, zero and two phases. In addition to this ground on the cable, the central shield and the meter itself must be grounded with a separate ground or on a copper pipe when entering the house, or with two 16 mm copper pins 2 meters long, or with a special copper plate buried in the ground to a depth of about a meter.
In a three-core "overseas" cable, the copper wire - "earth", goes without braiding. This ensures the operation of the RCD at the slightest damage to the insulation of the "zero" and "phase" wires along the entire length of the route. While in our country, the ground wire is insulated and provides protection only to end users.
Roracotta
In Canada, a rule has been introduced - all lines that supply sleeping rooms must be equipped with special machines that are sensitive to spark slipping on the consumer (plug, socket, etc.). If a spark jumps somewhere, the machine knocks out. It is expensive but must be done.
And this is only part of the nuances that ensure electrical safety. Having decided to run the cable in a steel pipe in houses built from a bar, remember that the tree shrinks over time. Moreover, depending on the moisture content of the source material, this value can be significant. This means that it is necessary to think in advance how to ensure the necessary movement / independence of the steel pipe with the cable, so that the bar does not "hang" on it in 2-3 years.
Condensation can form in the steel pipe and moisture from the slope of the track can enter the socket or junction box. Another "headache" is how to run tracks in large wooden houses. It is one thing to lay steel pipes in a 100-150 sq. M. Wooden cottage. m, but a completely different task in terms of complexity - in houses of 300-500 sq. m. In addition to increasing the estimate, special requirements are imposed on the qualifications of workers involved in the installation of electrical wiring in steel pipes.
Therefore, examples of the practical implementation of cable wiring in metal pipes are interesting.
Ivanov Kostya Participant of FORUMHOUSE
I installed the electrical wiring in the wooden ceiling of the attic floor, in a steel square pipe 15x15 mm, with a VVGng cable with a cross section of 3x2.5. Turns and layering - a metal hose with a diameter of 20 mm, it slides well on the pipe.
A square pipe is more convenient to install than a round one.
Installation of wiring in a log house
Wiring in a wooden house is also interesting. , executed by a user with a nickname Serg177. To do this, he bought a 15x15 mm pipe 300 meters long and a metal corrugation with a diameter of 2 cm, as well as brackets (they are used to fasten corrugations with a diameter of 1.5 cm) to fix the pipes to the walls. Next, we carry out the installation of the wiring, not forgetting to first clean the edges of the pipes from burrs!
Before starting electrical work, a wiring installation diagram is first drawn up. With a clear understanding and electrical circuit diagram at hand, wiring becomes much easier.
Why is a wiring diagram necessary?
Well, first of all, a diagram is needed to compile a list of required consumables. That is, having a circuit at hand, the length of the wire, the cross-section of the wire in individual sections, the required number of sockets and switches, junction boxes and the place of their marking, are calculated.
Also, the wiring wiring diagram is necessary to determine the installation location and location of the power elements of the wiring, such as: distribution board, circuit breakers, metering devices (meters), input of supply wires and cables.
An example of drawing up an electrical wiring diagram in a private house.
Power in a private house, as a rule, comes through a 0.4 kV overhead line. From the support of the overhead line, the phase wire L and the combined zero protective and working PEN (single-phase power supply) come to the input switchboard.
Fig 1. Power supply via overhead line.
Recently, energy supplying organizations have been practicing the installation of metering devices on the street, in the introductory electrical panel (previously, the meters were installed inside the house). Therefore, an electric meter and an input circuit breaker are installed in the lead-in electrical panel (you can also install an introductory selective RCD).
From the lead-in switchboard, the supply wire or cable is laid to the internal switchboard located directly inside the house.
From this internal electrical panel, the power supply of the house begins. In order for the power supply to be more reliable, consumers are divided into groups. Consider an example of a major consumer group:
- 1. Lighting;
- 2. Socket group;
- 3. Power group (boiler, washing machine, boiler, etc.);
- 4. Households. needs (outbuildings, garage, basement, etc.).
Separate protection devices (automatic machines, ouzo) are installed in the internal electrical panel for each consumer group.
Also for compiling wiring diagrams in a private house it is necessary to have a plan for the house itself. Knowing the drawing of the house plan, you can superficially display the wiring diagram.
Fig 3. Schematic diagram of the placement of electrical wiring in a private house.
From the above material, a fundamental wiring diagram in a private house.
Ri 4. Electric wiring diagram of the house.
If the mansion is large, then you can split the consumers separately for each floor, half of the house or each room separately.
If a three-phase power supply is suitable for the house?
If not a single-phase, but a three-phase power supply is suitable for the house, then in this case three phases (L1, L2, L3) and a combined zero protective and working wire PEN come from the support to the input switchboard.
Apartment wiring diagram
Wiring diagrams in the apartment and the house do not have significant differences between themselves. The difference between them is that the power supply of the apartment starts from the floor panel, since the power supply is supplied not via the air line, but by the cable line.
The electricity supply to the apartment begins in the staircase, where the switchboard with the meter is located. A general switch is installed here, from which two independent lines usually go.
Each line is protected by an automatic burst switch or a fuse (so called plug). Thus, if a short circuit occurs in one line, the apartment will not be completely de-energized.
Apartment wiring can be open or hidden. For open wiring, ballscrew or NYM wires can be used. Hidden wiring is subdivided into removable and non-removable. The wires of the removable wiring are laid inside the vinyl-plastic pipes, and the non-removable ones are laid directly under the layer of plaster.
Earlier, in Soviet times, metering and protection devices (meters, automatic machines, traffic jams) apartments were located only on the staircase. Now, many electricians rework the wiring diagram in the apartment in such a way that an internal electrical panel is also installed in the apartment. From it already goes the distribution of individual wiring lines to rooms.
Before drawing up a wiring diagram in an apartment, you need to draw up a plan for the layout and location of future electrical appliances. That is, where the TV, refrigerator, computer, etc. will be installed.
This is necessary in order to know where and in what quantity to place sockets and light switches during installation and over time, when the repair is over, there was no need to use devices such as carriers and tees.
Consider a typical two-room apartment. We will divide the electrical wiring in it into the following main groups of consumers:
- - lighting (hallway, rooms, kitchen);
- - sockets (rooms);
- - bathroom, toilet (lighting);
- - kitchen (sockets);
Wiring diagram in the apartment is similar to the scheme of a private house with a single-phase power supply.
Fig 6. Schematic diagram of electrical wiring in the apartment
Also, I would like to note that for bathrooms there are requirements for the location of switches - they are not allowed inside these rooms. In addition, the use of power outlets is prohibited in the bathroom.
An exception is the socket for connecting an electric shaver, but its connection to the network must be made through a transformer.
For any repair in an apartment, private house or in the country, as well as the breakdown of any electrical wiring element, you need to know exactly where the wires pass. Otherwise, this can lead to additional problems associated with finding electrical cables disguised in the wall, or, even worse, getting the tool into a live wire. In this case, it is desirable to have a wiring diagram. But as often happens, it is not at hand, since when buying your own home, no one is interested in this documentation. Therefore, it is advisable to understand the various options for power supply, since they are standard in multi-apartment buildings.
Wire connection options
A person who understands what awaits him in the process of independently drawing up an electrical wiring diagram or directly performing work on installing sockets, switches and light sources in his own apartment with his own hands should know the main ways in which electrical circuits are connected.
If the homeowner does not understand at all in the field of arranging electrical circuits, then it is better to entrust all the installation work in the apartment to professional electricians who, in a short time, will draw up a clear plan, including even the smallest details, which will save on the purchase of consumables.
Video: cable laying diagram in the house
How the wiring is done
The choice of the scheme should be done with full awareness of the matter. First of all, this is due to the safety rules for the use of electrical circuits. There are three main layout options available today.
- The most popular way of wiring is to connect all the constituent elements of the network using junction boxes. Such a scheme provides for the installation of the shield on the landing in a specially equipped niche, and not in a residential area. In the dashboard, there is a device for monitoring the consumed electricity and several bags. Electricity is supplied to the apartment by means of a cable, the wiring of which to rooms is carried out using junction boxes.
- The wiring diagram in the "Star" method implies that each element is connected with a separate line connected directly to the shield through an automatic toggle switch. With such a wiring, the consumption of wires, physical work and the cost of the project as a whole increase significantly. But after evaluating all the advantages and disadvantages, it becomes clear that all the costs are justified, since the system provides the ability to fully control each consumer separately.
- Similar to the previous version of the wiring is the circuit - "Loop". In this version, there is only one distinctive feature, which consists in connecting several consumers to one cable. This reduces the volume of installation work and consumables, which leads to a decrease in the cost of the project.
In most cases, the wiring diagram provides for a combination of several ways of laying cables at the same time. At the same time, it is very important to think over everything to the smallest detail in order to ultimately achieve maximum efficiency and safety of the electrical circuit.
Standard scheme
It is advisable to translate all ideas for arranging electrical circuits before starting installation work in a detailed diagram laid out on a sheet of paper. At the same time, it is important to take into account the layout of each individual room, which will allow you to calculate the number of distribution groups and elements of the power grid. For convenience, each group can be performed in a separate scheme.
From practice, it was revealed that the maximum efficiency of the distribution is achieved by combining consumption sources into several groups, each of which is connected to a separate automatic bagger. Thanks to this technical solution, further repairs and maintenance of the electrical network is facilitated without the need to de-energize the entire apartment. In addition, the connection of all consumers to one line is possible only if there is a cable with a large cross-section, which is able to withstand the increased load that occurs when all electrical appliances in the apartment are turned on simultaneously.
When placing the shield directly in the living room, it becomes possible to connect electrical appliances to separate machines. This greatly improves the efficiency and safety of using the electrical network. But, in this case, why did not such a scheme find widespread use? Everything is quite simple - this option for connecting devices to an AC network significantly increases the cost of implementing the project. Therefore, consumers are divided into the following groups:
- lighting group of living quarters and corridor;
- supply of electricity to rooms;
- electricity supply in the kitchen and corridor;
- supply of light and electricity to the bathroom and the bathroom. Moreover, this group implies an increased danger due to constantly high humidity;
- if the kitchen is equipped with an electric stove, then its connection must also be carried out separately.
To ensure maximum safety of electrical installations, each group must be equipped with an RCD - a special protective device, which is nothing more than a differential circuit breaker at maximum current values. Also, such protective devices must be equipped with wiring in the bathroom and in the kitchen.
After the final formation of the main groups, it is necessary to distribute in which places the consumers will be placed, such as an electric stove, a water heater, an air conditioner, etc. At the next stage, the marking of the installation of switches, junction boxes, lamps and sockets is performed. In this case, all the elements must be entered into the wiring diagram, on the basis of which the number of wires can be calculated.
It is very important that the schematic diagram of the wiring of electricity is drawn up in several copies, one of which must be saved for the future. After all the little things have been taken into account, you can draw up a detailed finishing drawing in accordance with the exact plan of each room.
All installation points of electrical elements are put on the diagram in accordance with the generally accepted designation system and are connected by lines indicating wires. To improve the readability of the circuit, it is advisable to designate different groups of wires with different colors.
The circuit must necessarily include all dimensions of the premises, distances from the electrical panel to sockets, switches and lighting sources, etc. Such a detailed plan will allow, in the shortest possible time, to carry out high-quality installation work and the calculation of all the necessary consumables, which will make it possible to plan costs.
Video: electrical wiring diagram in the apartment
To correctly make an apartment wiring diagram, you should know some important requirements for laying wires in residential buildings.
- The bathroom is not supplied with sockets, except for one connected by means of a transformer for switching on low voltage appliances such as an electric shaver.
- It is inadmissible to connect the grounding of the socket to the zero terminal. It is also strictly forbidden to ground the wiring elements to the battery or water supply. This is unsafe for the tenants of the apartment.
- If a stove is installed in the kitchen, connected to an AC network or other powerful consumers, then the main machine must be of a large rating so that false alarms do not occur.
- Wiring should be done only in vertical or horizontal direction.
- Changing the direction of the wiring can put a nail or drill into a live wire during repairs. It is also unacceptable to cross cables.
- It is important that the electrical wires run 15 cm from the surface of the floor or ceiling, as well as window and door frames and outside corners of the room.
- The distance from the heating pipes or water supply should not be less than 3 cm. The wiring to the outlet should come from the bottom, while to the switch from the top.
It is desirable that all self-installed sockets and switches are located at the same level. So, for sockets, the acceptable height from the floor is 30 cm, while for switches they recede from 80 cm to 1 m. Naturally, if necessary, these parameters can be changed according to the needs of the residents of the apartment.
How to make your own wiring
To lay electrical wires in an apartment, you must clearly follow the prepared diagram. At the same time, there is a certain sequence of doing such work with your own hands.
To properly connect the wires, he uses three different methods - using terminals, soldering or twisting, which can be viewed in the video. The first two are considered the most effective in use, since they are considered the most reliable and have a high degree of safety, although they are more difficult to do with your own hands.
Video: electrical wiring installation
Which wires to choose
To make the correct wiring in an apartment, you need to buy suitable wires. At the same time, a copper cable is considered the best for wiring for the simple reason that it has maximum flexibility, is less brittle and has high current conductivity. It is also more convenient to mount it in contrast to its aluminum counterpart.
In apartments, in most cases, wires are laid with two or three conductors with a cross section of 2.5–3 square mm for sockets and 1.5 for switches and lamps. For more powerful consumers, a separate line is laid with wires more than 3 mm square, which will allow them not to overheat.
The wiring diagram may well be drawn up and implemented independently. But the responsibility for the quality of its work and the safety of the residents will lie with the person who carried out the installation work. Therefore, at least minimal knowledge in this area is welcome.